Paper-cutting machine.



No. 632,214. Patented Aug. 29, |899. A. cowLEs.

PAPER CUTTING MACHlNE.

(Annlcation filed Feb. 11, 1896.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

mkgmq No. 632,2I4. Y

A. B.V CUWLES. PAPER CUTTING mAcHmE.

(Application led Feb. 11, 1896.) l(N0 Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheef 2.

Patented Aug. 29, i899.

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M272 @S56/S, jim/efe zOJ" s. 7. Mm g v No. 632,2l4.

A. B. GOWLES.

PAPER CUTTING MACHINE.

(Application illed Feb. 11, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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Patented Aug. 29, |899.

3' Sheets-Sheet 3,

UNTTED STATES PATENT EFICE.

ARTHUR B. COVLES, OF ROCHESTER, NEV `YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE STANDARD LITHOGRAPIIING COMPANY OF TIIE CITY OF NEW YORK,

O F NEV YORK.

PAPER-CUTTING MACHINE.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,214, dated August 29, 1899.

Application filed February 1l, 1896. Serial No. 578,951. (No model.)

T0 all whom, t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR B. CoWLEs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in PaperCutting Machinery, (for which Letters' Patent of Great Britain have been issued to A. J. Boult as a communication from me, No. 17,024, dated July 19, 1897,) of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l is a top plan view of one of my machines. looking in the direction of the arrow marked 2 in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a side View thereof, looking in the direction of the arrow marked 3 in Fig. l, parts being removed to exhibit construction. Fig. 4isacross-section on the line 4 4 of Fig. l, and Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

The object of my invention is to provide an accurate and simple machine for cutting paper, and it is herein shown and described as applied to cutting into the proper lengths the rectangular tubes for forming boxes, such as may be produced, for instance, by the machine set forth in my United States Patent No. 536,371.

My invention consists in the mechanisms hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, A is the frame of the machine, which of course may be of any suitable form necessary to sustain the mechanism. On one side of the frame is the feeding-table B. Longitudinally upon this table I place a series of supporting-bars B', on whichthe stock or in the case shown the unslit shells X are placed by the operator. At the end of each supporting-bar next to the cutting mechanism is an upwardly-extending lug or stop b', from which there extends to the surface of the feed-table an inclined face b. (See Figs. 3 and 4.) On the feed-table B are also end guides B2, which are adjustable, as usual, on the feed-table, as also are the supporting-bars B'. On one of the end guides, close to the point where the stock is delivered to the cut- Jters, there is a spring b2, which presses the Fig. 2 is a front view thereof,

edge of each blank or piece of material against the other end guide, and thus accurately adjusts its position with reference to the cutting mechanism before it begins to be cut.

Through the feed-table B are a pair of circular perforations, in which are set a pair of revolu ble disks C, having their uppersurfaces flush with the surface of the table B. (See Figs. l and 4.) These disks are of the same diameter and are supported on vertical axes C' equidistant from the cutters and set in bearings C2, hung under the table B, and on the lower end of each axis C' is a beveled gearwheel C3, which meshes with a beveled gear- Wheel C4 on a transverse shaft C5 under the table and suitably connected with the driving mechanism. The gear-wheel CS and the gear-wheel C4 operate to turn the two disks C in opposite circular directions and at the same rate of speed. It will be noticed that the edge of the disk C nearest to the front of the machine extends to a suitable distance between the supporting-bars B' and that the diametrically opposite edge of the disk extends close to the cutting mechanism. Upon the upper surface of each disk C is an adjustable lug c. Across the top of the machine is a brace A', extending between side supports A2 of the frame, and from each side support A2in the direction of the feed-table extends a bracket A3 to support a transverse shaft D, driven as hereinafter described. To the brace A' are fastened two brackets D', to which are pivoted by horizontal pivots D2 (see Fig. 4) a pair of feeding-dogs D3 D4, each of which is normally pulled upward by a spring D5, attached to an arm D, fixed to the brace A'. 'The feeding-dogs extend from the pivots D2 to points immediately over the lugs b' on the two outside supporting-bars B', and the dogs have loweredges parallel to the axis D. Upon the shaft D adjacent to each dog is a cam d3 d4, each of which bears upon an antifrictionroller d2 (see Fig. 4) on the side of a dog. The cams d2 d are of such form and are so set on the shaft as to cause the dogs DSD4 to rise and fall alternately, and the two corresponding dogs D3 are operated by the shaft D to rise and fall exactly together, and the tubes having lithographed matter on their` outsides,and the machine,as shown,is adapted to separate the single long tube into eleven separate box-covers. On account of the lithographed matter it is necessary to separate the individual covers with great accuracy on the lines of division between the separate prints in order that there shall be as little waste as possible of paper, and it is also necessary that the cuts across the long tube shall be perfectly square and clean.

That portion of my machine thus far described operates as follows: The operator places a series of the long tubes X, just described, vertically on edge upon the supporting-bars B', pushing them forward toward the lugs b. WVhen the foremost tube rests against the lugs b, it also rests against the front faces of two of the dogs D3 or D4, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. If the shaft D is now operated in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4 and the foremost tube rests against the faces of the dogs D3, these dogs remain Vdepressed in the position shown in Fig. 4 until the camss d3 permit the dogs to rise for a brief period, pulled by their springs Dwhereupon one of the tubes X drops forward under the dogs D3 on account of the engagement over its upper edge of the dogs D4, which have been suddenl;7 and momentarily depressed by the cams d4. The wedge-like ends of the dogs enter between the foremost tube and the next and tilt the foremost tube forward and allow it to drop over the lugs b and to fall down the inclined faces b upon the surface of the feed-table B. The tube in' the course of this tilting and dropping is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. Then the tube falls forward upon the table B, it also falls across the disks C at a time when the lugs c are back of the ends b of the supporting-bars B'. The revolution of the disks C (which occurs in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 1 brings the lugs c against the back edges of the tube X, and the continued revolution of the disks C presses the tube forward toward the cutters, both ends of the tube moving with equal speed and in lines exactly at right angles to the cutter-shaft. When the tube is pushed forward far enough to engage with theside spring b2, the tube is pressed against the other end guide B2 and is thus accurately placed with regard to the lines on which it is to be cut. The revolution of the disks C, bringing the lugs c into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. l, fully delivers the leading edge of the tube to the cutting mechanism.

It will be Vseen that the shafts C5 and D operate in time together and, as shown in my drawings, at the same number of revolutions per minute. One tube after another is automatically delivered from the series on the supporting-bars B' to the rotary feeding mechanism of the feed-table, and thus in respect of the feeding to the cutters the machine is wholly automatic, and it is only necessary for the operator to keep a sufficient number of tubes upon the supporting-bars B and by a weight Y or other suitable device placed upon the table B to keep them pressed forward against the lugs ZJ and the faces of the dogs D3. The elasticity of the. tubes when collapsed into the-forms shown in Figs. 3 and 4 causes a gradual feeding forward of the tubes, so that it is not necessary for the operator to press the series of tubes upon the supportingbars B constantly in the direction of the feeding device.

Transversely in the frame A are j ournaled two parallel shafts E and F, carrying rotary cutters of a well-known form arranged in pairs. The cutting-points of the respective pairs of cutters are in the same plane with the surface of the table B. In Fig. 4 a tube is shown in the position of delivery to the cutters e f. rlhere are of course a suiiicient number of pairs of'cutters on the shaft to slit the tube along as many lines as may be desired. The lower shaft F is in fixed boxes, but the upper shaft E is set in movable boxes E', sliding in ways E2 to and from the shaft F, being pressed toward the shaft by the setscrew E3 and being pressed away from the shaft F by the spring E4. The shaft F is also the driving-shaft and bears the fast and loose pulleys F F2 and, if desired, a hand-wheel F3 for use in setting the apparatus preparatory to operating it by power. The shafts C5, F, E, and D are all parallel and are geared together as follows: The shafts E and F directly, the shaft D to the shaft E by the IOC) IIO

idler G, and the shaft C5 to the shaft F by the idler G. The arrows in Fig. 3 show the direction of rotation of the respective shafts and idlers.

Between the cutters on the shaft F are a series of drums f', having peripheral grooves f2 therein. Through these drums and through the cutters f, eccentric to the axis, passes a gripper-shaft H, bearing a series of gripperhooksH, one for each drum. Upon the shaft H is an arm H3, bearing an antifriction-roller H4 for engagement with the cam H2, which is stationary and is fixed to the frame A. A spring H5, attached to an arm HG on the gripper-shaft H, normally tends to keep the gripperhook H closed. The spring operates against a fixed abutment 71.*", so as to be independent of the action of the cam H2, and when the cam revolves the gripper-finger is alternately closed and opened. The opening is performed quickly by an abrupt depression in the cam, as shown in Fig. 5, and the closing thereof is also quick. The gripper-finger is thus closed by the operation of the spring H5 and is also opened by the operation of the cam. The position of the cam with reference to the position of the arm H3 is timed with reference to the rotation of the feeding-lugs c, so that as soon as the lugs reach their extreme position in feeding the tube X forward the grippers take hold of the leading edge of the tube, the same being caught between the end of the gripper and the abutment-plate H7. In Fig. 4 the parts are shown in the position when the tube is fed forward and the gripper-finger is just at the point of being operated to grasp the tube, and in Fig. 5 the full lines show the parts iu position when the gripper-linger.' has just taken hold of the leading edge. The shaft H and the gripper mechanism revolve with the shaft F, while the cam Il2 is stationary. On the shaft E are also a series of drums c', provided with openings e2 to permit the movements of the gripper-fingers H. The drums on the respective shaft-s assist in keeping the tubes flat and straight during the process of cutting.

On the delivery side of the machine is the receiving-table K. Across the machine and between the receiving-table and the cutters is a shaft J, bearing a series of adjustable strippers and stationary shell-stopping fingers J', having their upper surfaces in the saine plane as the table K and substantially in a radial plane or line of the'drumsf and cuttersfand having points projecting into the grooves f2 of the drums f. After the gripper-s have taken hold of the leading edge of the tube the revolutionV of the shaft pulls the tube through the cutters and slits the tube on the desired lines, and in my mechanism the feeding and cutting must necessarily proceed with equal speed without buckling the tube or tearing or breaking the edges by reason of slip of feeding mechanism or by difference in speed between the feed and the cutting. Vhen the tube is slit, the cam H2 raises the arm H3 and disen gages all the grippers H simultaneously from the series of shells just before the leading edges of the individual shells come in contact with the strippers or stopping-ngers J', which are radial to the rotary cutters.v The positions of the gripper and of the shell at this moment are indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5. The operation of the cam causes the grippers to grasp the shell X through about one-quarter of the revolution of the shaft F and to hold the individual shells till they are delivered in a vertical position on the shell-stopping fingers J', whereby further movement of the shells or sheet-sections is arrested. As each tube is slit the shells are delivered against the shells just previously cut, and thus they are arranged in order upon the table K in a position for convenient handling. As these shells or sheet-sections are thus delivered they are arrested by said stopping-fingers and substantially perpendicular thereto, and since these stopping-fingers constitute continuations of the tubular blanks mentioned above.

the table-surface the series of sheet-sections rest-ing on edge on the stopping-fingers and on the table are moved forward by the sheet-sections produced by each successive eut. The manner of stopping the sheet-sections and the delivery thereof on edge upon the stoppingfingers will be clearly seen in Fig. 5.

It is obvious that my device is adapted to the cutting of other forms of paper stock than For instance, it is adapted to feed sheets or strips of paper or of cardboard and to cut the sheetsections accurately and rapidly. It is further clear that the tubes and tube-'sections herein described are merely forms of sheets and sheet-sections, and in this specification and in the following claims sheets ofpaper, strips of cardboard, tubular blanks, and other like materials or articles are to be considered as equivalents.

NV hat I claim isl. In a paper-cutting machine, the combination of a pair of shafts having pairs of eooperating rotary cutters thereon, a series of grippers one foreach pair of cutters, said grippers revolving with one of said shafts and adapted to carry sheets through the cutters, mechanism for opening and closing said grippers, and a delivery-table having stoppingfingers for arresting the sheet-sections extending into the path of the sheet-sections and in continuation of the table-surface and below the level of the line of cut of said rotary cutters, whereby the sheet-sections are delivered to said table and perpendicular thereto.

2. In a paper-cutting machine, the combination of a pair of shafts having pairs of rotary cutters thereon, a series of grippers, one for each pair of cutters, said grippers revolving with one of the shafts and adapted to carry sheets through the cutters, mechanism for opening and closing saidgrippers, and a delivery-table below the level of the line of cut of said rotary cutters having stationary stopping-fingers for arresting the sheet-sections extending into the path of said sheetsections and substantiallyradial to the ro- IOO tary cutters, whereby the sheet-sections are delivered to said table and perpendicular thereto.

8. The combination of a feeding-table, and a feeding device consisting of a pair of disks of equal diameter revolving horizontally in opposite rotary directions and having their surfaces in the same plane With the feedingtable, and a lug on each disk extending above the surface of the table, whereby material placed upon said feeding-table and across said disks is fed forward' by the motion of said lugs.

4. In a paper-cutting machine, a feedingtable, and an auxiliary feeding mechanism consisting of a stop on said table and pairs of alternately-moving feeding-dogs operating alternately on the upper edge of each blank for separating the successive blanks from a 'mass of vertically-arranged blanks.

IZO

5. In a paper-cutting machine, a feedingtable, and an auxiliary feeding mechanism consisting of a stop on said table and pairs of alternately-moving feeding-dogs operating alternately on the upper edge of each blank for separating the successive blanks from a mass of vertically-arranged blanks and a mechanism to which the dogs deliver the blanks for advancing the same to the cutters.

G. In a paper-cutting machine, a feedingtable, and au auxiliary feeding mechanism consisting of supporting-bars above the level of the feed-table, each bar having a stop on its end next the cutters, and pairs of alternately-moving feeding-dogs operating alternately on the upper edge of each blank for separating the successive blanks from a mass of vertically-arranged blanks and delivering them successively Aover the stop upon the feeding-table.

7. In a paper-cutting machine, a feedingtable, an auxiliary feeding mechanism consisting of a stop on said table, and pairs of alternately-moving feeding-dogs operating alternately on the upper edge of each blank for separating the successive blanks from a mass of vertically-arranged blanks and delivering them successively over the' stop upon the feeding-table.

8. In a paper-cutting machine, a feedingtable, and a feeding device, consisting of a pair of disks of equal diameter revolving horizontally in opposite directions and having their surfaces in the same plane with the feeding-table, a lug on each disk whereby the blank is pressed forward to the cutters, and an auxiliary feeding mechanism consisting of a stop on said table, and pairs of alternatelymoving dogs operating alternately on the upper edge of each blank forseparating the successive blanks from a mass of vertically-arranged blanks and delivering them successively over the stop upon the feeding-table, and across said disks.

9. In a paper-cutting machine, a feeding device, consisting of a pair of disks of equal diameter revolving horizontallyin opposite directions, a lug on each disk whereby the blank is pressed forward to the cutters, and an auxiliary feeding mechanismonsisting of a stop on said table and pairs of alternately-moving feeding-dogs operating alternately on theupper edge of each blank for separating the successive blanks from a mass of verticallyarranged blanks and delivering them successively to said feeding device.

lO. In a paper-cutting machine, a feedingtable, and a feeding device, consisting of a pair of disks of equaldiameter revolving horizontally in opposite directions having their surfaces in the same plane with the feeding` table, a lug on each disk whereby the blank is pressed forward to the cutters, and an auX- iliary feeding mechanism, consisting of a stop on said table and pairs of alternately-moving feeding-dogs operating alternately on the upper edge of each blank for separating the successive blanks from a mass of verticallyarranged blanks and delivering them successively over the stop upon the feeding-table.

ARTHUR B. CONVLES.

Witnesses:

S. P. MOORE, E. H. MARsELLUs. 

